Rangers sign veteran goaltender James Reimer to one-year contract
The 38-year-old goaltender earned the contract after posting a shutout in his lone AHL tryout appearance.
NEW YORK · The New York Rangers have signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract, the team announced on Sunday. The deal is worth $850,000 and comes after Reimer impressed on a professional tryout with the team's American Hockey League affiliate. The 38-year-old made 35 saves in a shutout performance for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday. The Rangers are seeking goaltending depth after losing starter Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending knee injury and backup Joonas Korpisalo to a lower-body injury.
Reimer will join rookie Dylan Garand to form the team's new goaltending tandem. Garand, 24, has started the last eight consecutive games for the Rangers since Shesterkin was injured in a 3-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Oct. 9. He has a record of 4-4-1 with a 2.65 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage and one shutout. "We've agreed to terms with goaltender James Reimer on a one-year contract," the Rangers said in a social media post.
The veteran last played in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators last season, appearing in 14 games and making 13 starts. He posted a 2.42 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage. Reimer made his final start for Ottawa on April 15, making 19 saves in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He signed a professional tryout agreement with Hartford on Oct. 15, 10 days before earning his NHL contract.
With his 35-save shutout for Hartford, Reimer became the oldest goalie to record a shutout in the AHL since Wade Flaherty did so for Rockford in 2008 at 40 years old. The Rangers assigned Spencer Martin, who had been Garand's backup, to Hartford to make room for Reimer on the roster. The team has lost two consecutive games but holds a 7-5-1 record, good for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Reimer has played 539 regular-season games over a 16-year NHL career that began in December 2010. He holds a career record of 232-191-67 with a 2.87 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and 32 shutouts. He was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round, 99th overall, of the 2006 NHL Draft. The Rangers are the ninth franchise Reimer has played for, tying a record set earlier this season by Cam Talbot. In addition to the Maple Leafs and Senators, Reimer has played for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres. He has a 5-5 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in 11 Stanley Cup playoff games. The Rangers begin a four-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
With files from Sportsnet, Yahoo Sports and TSN